APTRA URGES STAKEHOLDERS TO ENROL FRONTLINE STAFF IN RESPONSIBLE RETAIL TRAINING PROGRAMME

The Asia Pacific Travel Retail Association (APTRA) is urging those retailers and suppliers who have not yet enrolled their staff on the Responsible Retail Training Programme to do so without delay.

Over 1,000 front-line and managerial staff members from 22 companies have been trained on the online programme already.

Launched in 2014, the RRTP is an online training module which teaches staff to sell alcohol products in an ethical manner and in line with current regulations. It is based on the global self-regulatory code of conduct introduced by APTRA, the Duty Free World Council and its fellow trade associations to demonstrate that the duty free industry is compliant with the World Health Organisation’s global strategy to reduce the harmful use of alcohol.

A Chinese version will be launched in the next couple of months.

The retailers which have put their staff through the training so far are Delhi Duty Free, DFS Changi Airport, Dufry, Duty Free Philippines, Heinemann Asia Pacific, Heinemann Australia, Hyderabad Duty Free, Malaysia Airports Holding Berhad, Nuance Group, Sky Connection and World Duty Free Group. The suppliers are Bacardi-Martini Asia Pacific, Brown Forman, Edrington Group, Ian Macleod, Inver House Distillers, Pernod Ricard, Treasury Wine Estates and William Grant & Sons. They are joined by agents Bommidala Enterprises, Colombo Management and Goodman Classic.

Andrew Ford, President APTRA, commented: “I cannot stress too strongly the importance of the RRTP as an advocacy tool. We have to demonstrate to legislators that the duty free & travel retail channel is different from domestic retail, not only on account of the specific location where the business is conducted, but also because of our responsible approach to selling and promoting alcohol to international passengers who are shopping in our airports, airlines, ferries, cruise-ships and border stores. I urge liquor suppliers and retailers to ensure that all frontline staff, hired directly or on behalf of their company, are given the opportunity to take the responsible retail training as soon as possible.”

For further information about the Responsible Retail Training Programme please consult https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=60&v=D-niAgqmIdc

For information about APTRA please consult www.aptra.asia or contact info@aptra.asia

About APTRA

APTRA is the trade association for the duty free and travel retail industry in the Asia Pacific region, serving all members and the industry to help grow the business and protect it when challenges arise.

• Through technology-led initiatives, seminars and conferences, APTRA serves to facilitate contact between members;
• Through bespoke training initiatives, APTRA is building the industry’s brand as a highly professional, caring and responsible retail channel;
• Through intensive consumer and market research, APTRA provides a solid knowledge bank, bringing valuable, actionable data relevant to all sectors;
• Through regular communication, APTRA seeks to spread awareness and knowledge about the industry and the importance of travel retail for governments, airports, airlines and related businesses;
• Through regional monitoring, and in collaboration with member companies and trade associations in other parts of the world, APTRA is constantly on the alert for new challenges where its advocacy on behalf of the industry is needed with national governments and policy-makers in order to safeguard and grow the business of all concerned.

The geographical area covered by APTRA includes countries in Eastern Asia, South Eastern Asia, South Central Asia and Oceania.

www.aptra.asia